Cracked Vases

I remember seeing this vase at someone's house

it was strong, and clean

it held flowers and some branches

and was very beautiful

They told me

"It was broken a long time ago,

but we glued it back together and look at it now."

So finally I know that

I, too, am strong and clean, and very beautiful

that I can hold my life,

that the branches in my water

can take root and grow.

The hammer broke me, once,

but now I am stronger at the broken places. ~ a survivor

I found this anonymous poem on a website while doing some topical research for a friend. One area I am very passionate about (due to my own life experiences thus far, and having testament to how God has brought me through it all) is teaching women how to live fulfilling lives, knowing and believing that they are of worth, no matter what may come at them in life, because they are daughters of the King. I loved the sentiment of strength, perseverance and hope that this poem offered.

As Christian women, we can struggle with our “Mary and Martha” roles in life, trying to juggle those and find our niche. We struggle with taking Proverbs 31 and trying to be the greatest of achievers. We struggle with how God made us; sensitive, nurturing, longing to be taken care of and provided for, multi-taskers to the n’th degree!

We carry around a lot of pain sometimes….at times, we don’t even realize we are carrying it. We tend to cling to our illusion of control. We tend to keep our focus on others, and forgetting to start each day with a long gaze into the mirror.

Yes, it is part of our commission and lot to sow into the lives of others. And, to a woman, “others” seems to have no end….it’s husbands, children, siblings, co-workers, extended family, the kid from down the street who wants to stay the night, the friend who takes, takes, takes. We are giving so much of ourselves EVERY SINGLE DAY. But, what are we giving?
What are you harboring, and pouring out to others? Anger and bitterness over past hurts. Depression. A mutilated self-esteem. Apathy. Insecurity. That ever-infecting “control freak” factor.

Yes, we have the love of God in us, and we hope that we are pouring that out. But, if you were truly honest with yourself right now…what are you pouring out?

I venture to say, there are lots of cracked vases walking around out there, waiting to be glued back together, to feel the strength and stability of that glue. We look at ourselves and see the broken pieces lying all around, visuals of what the hammer has done to our lives. Internally, we are screaming, crying, longing for the healing and restoration of that glue to put us back together, to make that vision, of what we know we can become, a reality!

We can start to feel hopeless, weary and defeated. In Luke 10:38-42, there is the account of the infamous “Mary and Martha” role definitions. Martha is working away, and asks the Lord “shouldn’t my sister be helping me?”. All the while, Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening.

Sisters, take time to pause for that gaze into the mirror this week. If you find that what you are full with and are pouring out is not fruitful, stop all the Martha’ing, and put yourself at the feet of Jesus. God is not the God of exhaustion, weakness, discouragement and despair. He is the God of perseverance, strength, encouragement and hope! He longs to meet you right where you are at in life, take you on the journey of restoration and healing , joy and hope. Do not take this sentence lightly: NO MATTER WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE, nothing is to big to be conquered in Christ.

Whether you are a new Christian who is struggling with letting go of an old lifestyle, or a mature Christian who is tired…there is always a time to stop at the feet of Jesus and beg for restoration. If now is your time, don’t hesitate to heed his promptings.

If you are doing okay, ask God to show you to whom, and how, to be an encouragement to someone down this week. You may never know how your smallest acts will brighten and encourage even a complete stranger, or a dear friend. Walk with Him daily, giving Him your thoughts, your words and your actions, imploring to Him that it be His light that you illuminate.